Family Dog Causes Fire and Nearly Costs Cat Its Life

A family in Margate, Kent, experienced a house fire caused by their pet dog, Herbie. While playing, Herbie jumped up on a work surface and accidentally activated the toaster, igniting a blaze. The smoke alarm alerted a 12-year-old child, who quickly notified the family. Although everyone, including Herbie, escaped without harm, firefighters found the family's black cat, Mush, unconscious and had to resuscitate her using a pet oxygen mask. The incident resulted in significant property damage, and the family is now staying in temporary housing. In their aftermath comments, the family expressed shock at the potential dangers posed by pets and the importance of smoke alarms in homes.